Selective Hearing

Callie is our 14 year old German Short hair. She’s done very well here in Tucson and has stayed fit—even after a bout of Valley Fever. Actually, it seems that our lives have often revolved around her, and before any plans are made, we must consider her and what she needs. I’m okay with that, Gentle Readers of This Blog. But in her old-age she has become demanding and uncooperative. She does what she wants.

I got ready for the long 27 mile commute into work last night by packing—and then re-packing; got to get rid of stuff I don’t need. Dang I forgot to leave my office shoes at work—so I had to carry them. Oh well…

I made it to bed early, or so I thought—Callie pulled a Cliff Bar out of my backpack and had a little before-bed-time snack. She gave me that, “If I can get it—it is mine!” look of hers.

At 4 a.m. she was pulling the blanket off the bed—her way to signal me to get up and let her outside. She’s too old now to jump up on the bed and knock the wind out of me.

4 o’clock in the morning and now I’m awake waiting for her at the door while she takes a pee and goes on backyard patrol. I was not able to get back to sleep for the hour that I had before the alarm would ring—I tossed and turned and just as I was going back to sleep—alarm is on and time to saddle up.

I need to roll out of Dog Mtn by 5:30 a.m. mes amis. Because of increased traffic up where I live in the mornings, I have to take the long safe route. It’s mostly all climbing—and when it’s cold, like this morning— it’s slow-going.

As I left to go out, Callie decided that she too had to go out—and she disappeared into the morning darkness—and I could not find her, and she would not come back. With my Layton Light blazing down the block, I spotted her, told her to get back to the house—but she gave me a vain glance and ran. I got her turned around and was able to coax her back into the garage with a piece of Cliff Bar—then I quick closed the garage door on her.

This episode cost me 15 minutes.

Decision time—instead of taking the long way with long climbs, I went the fast short way down Thornydale—which is now even more dangerous with heavy traffic and narrow crumbling asphalt. Going a fast 25 mph for three miles, and with my Layton Light—connected to my Dynamo Hub—I made it and drivers seemed okay giving me space. I made up my 15 minutes and then some. Shortly thereafter I found myself at the YMCA right about the time I would had I driven and parked the car. I did not want to have a repeat of a two hour freezing morning commute like the one in mid December. This morning as I passed the new Fire House at Ina and Shannon (intersection USA anywhere, mes amis) I saw the temp on their billboard was 44 degrees. I think is was 28 back on the December ride.

Still too dark to photograph on this dark morning…

My plan is to ride in 27 miles in the mornings and get in some base miles, then do an intense short commute to my neighbor's office--and then get a ride home with her back up to Dove Mtn. It's gettig a bit lighter as the weeks progress, but it's still dark about the time I would get to my car at the YMCA. Within that few miles it is so dangerous mes amis. In the morning there is not a soul stirring--in the evening at the intersection of Almost Certain Death, it is a mad house...


I love this freakin' SUV! Because I don't have to gas it up or make the payments!

Heather has given me the secret code to punch in and I can unlock the Thing and stowe the Trek. It's a Lincoln whatever--total bling! I just put in the bike and in two seconds I'm chilling and riding shotgun. I wait for Heather to get off work...


Oooo! Leather! And the seats have ass warmers--and butt coolers! Just push a button!

Heather told me that the job she has sucks (she was laid off her other job after 8 years) and soon she'll be otta there. She also admitted that the Thing (the SUV) costs too much to drive--it's just too expensive to gas up and is taking all their money. They really want to sell it--it's already worth less than what they owe...